Education school plants promise tree and buries time capsule for anniversary

The School of Education's time capsule becoming covered with signatures and filled with momentos.
It is set to open again in 100 years. Photo by Lauren Pennock.

LAUREN PENNOCK & KAYLA DRAKE | Reporters

The School of Education students, faculty and alumni did not let the falling temperatures keep them from continuing their celebration of the school’s 100 years.

Beside the pavilion on the historic side of Lindenwood’s campus, where the School of Education began its second day of celebration Thursday. Photo by Lauren Pennock.

The celebratory events kicked off Wednesday morning and continued Thursday afternoon under the pavilion on the historic side of Lindenwood’s campus. Faculty, students – current and past — as well as their families and friends gathered to enjoy a live band, a free buffet and each other’s company.

Also featured was a kid’s corner with opportunities for hugs and photos with Leo the Lion, face painting and plenty of permanent markers to sign the School of Education’s time capsule before it was buried.

The event also featured the planting of a linden tree near the pavilion to celebrate the centennial.

The School of Education’s freshly planted promise tree, between Roemer and the pavilion on the historic side of campus. Photo by Lauren Pennock.

Dr. Anthony Scheffler, Dean of Lindenwood’s School of Education, spoke to those who attended Thursday’s festivities.

“This celebration is about honoring our legacy, building our future, and recognizing the importance of the past,” said Scheffler. “We will forever be the first group to celebrate this 100 year mark.”

The education program also added a future classroom in Roemer, as part of the centennial.

Room 217 is the second future classroom on campus.

What makes the classroom futuristic is the structure and and technology within it. The classroom is separated into four pods and each pod has a TV monitor to connect to a laptop wirelessly, through Solstice. The classroom also has two zoom cameras for video conferencing to connect to remote classrooms, like the Belleville Lindenwood campus.

The zoom cameras and pods are intended to foster collaboration within small group settings.

The future classroom is separated into four color-coated pods, each with separate technology capabilities that can all link up.

Photo by Kayla Drake

“Now we can actually model what we want our students to do in classrooms,” associate professor of education, Jill Hutcheson said.

The classroom is also referred to as an active learning space and uses K-12 technology that currently exists in schools around the country.

Hutcheson said renovating the space was like “updating the bones” of Roemer Hall.

Roemer 108, a traditional classroom in the hall, even keeping a chalkboard.

Photo by Kayla Drake

Education Professor, Lynda Leavitt said down the hall, in Roemer 108 students can travel back in time to experience what education was like 100 years ago, which is what makes Roemer unique.

Overall, the modern classroom, and a conversation with Apple education team member, Jon Landis, proved to Leavitt that now a teachers role is to foster collaboration, instead of preach at students.

“That’s why it’s more collaborative because [students are] bringing their own mindsets and thoughts,” she said.

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